over the last several days I have heard several people say they can be a christian and not be in church. I know that some truly believe this.
One gave me the old line of "well there are hypocrites in church", and of course I agree. There are hypocrites everywhere, if you don't go where hypocrites are then you must have real trouble finding places to go.
You can worship God in the beauty of Creation.
You can find Him everywhere.
this is true.
However, if you are not in church you will not worship. You will not recharge, you will not reconnect.
To be a computer or IT person you must stay up to date with the new technology, go to classes, read the literature.
To be a current auto mechanic you must re-certify every so often.
To be a ball player you must study offense and defense, practice and learn the other team.
Why is the Christian life any different?
You will not learn and grow if you are not in a God fearing bible preaching church.
why do we insist that we can do it all our on own?
My personal belief is that you should be in church as often as you can. If you do not then you wear down, break down, the farther away from God's people you are the farther from God you are.
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We are humans, we need other humans around us, like minded and of one accord that we might reaffirm our strength and our purpose.
If you do not go to church as often as possible, if you refuse to stand up for Him in that most obvious of ways then I would start questioning your faith.
I do not know your heart, but your acts reveal where your heart is.
Pro_15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
In church you are around people who share your faith, your purpose. People who can lift you up in prayer. People who can advise, talk, listen, and laugh with you in open and honest ways you can not get in the world.
In church you get the singing, the praise and worship. the message from God. In a church you get all the recharging you need, ready to go for the next week.
In church you get to remember the One who gave all for you and in church is your chance to give back.
We have baptism that we do to follow in Christ's footsteps. He led by example for us. On the Sabbath day He was always in church, teaching and expounding the ways of God to the people.
Christ set the example.
The early church met every day to greet each other, lift each other up and to bolster their souls in the Glory of God that comes from a good old fashioned Spirit filled service.
The early church did this amidst fierce persecution. They were marked for death if they showed any affiliation with Christ and yet they continued to serve and meet as often as possible.
You say you can serve and not be in church.
I say you won't.
I say we need the daily weekly meetings, refreshment of purpose.
I say that if you actively avoid church because of sin, or failure, or because of the hypocrites then satan is winning.
I say that church should be a priority and not for what the church can do for you but what you can do for the church. The Body of believers that makes up the church. You might just make someone smile, and while you are at it you might even get a blessing.
But if you are not in church you will do nothing.
You will be nothing of note in the Christian life.
One gave me the old line of "well there are hypocrites in church", and of course I agree. There are hypocrites everywhere, if you don't go where hypocrites are then you must have real trouble finding places to go.
You can worship God in the beauty of Creation.
You can find Him everywhere.
this is true.
However, if you are not in church you will not worship. You will not recharge, you will not reconnect.
To be a computer or IT person you must stay up to date with the new technology, go to classes, read the literature.
To be a current auto mechanic you must re-certify every so often.
To be a ball player you must study offense and defense, practice and learn the other team.
Why is the Christian life any different?
You will not learn and grow if you are not in a God fearing bible preaching church.
why do we insist that we can do it all our on own?
My personal belief is that you should be in church as often as you can. If you do not then you wear down, break down, the farther away from God's people you are the farther from God you are.
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We are humans, we need other humans around us, like minded and of one accord that we might reaffirm our strength and our purpose.
If you do not go to church as often as possible, if you refuse to stand up for Him in that most obvious of ways then I would start questioning your faith.
I do not know your heart, but your acts reveal where your heart is.
Pro_15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
In church you are around people who share your faith, your purpose. People who can lift you up in prayer. People who can advise, talk, listen, and laugh with you in open and honest ways you can not get in the world.
In church you get the singing, the praise and worship. the message from God. In a church you get all the recharging you need, ready to go for the next week.
In church you get to remember the One who gave all for you and in church is your chance to give back.
We have baptism that we do to follow in Christ's footsteps. He led by example for us. On the Sabbath day He was always in church, teaching and expounding the ways of God to the people.
Christ set the example.
The early church met every day to greet each other, lift each other up and to bolster their souls in the Glory of God that comes from a good old fashioned Spirit filled service.
The early church did this amidst fierce persecution. They were marked for death if they showed any affiliation with Christ and yet they continued to serve and meet as often as possible.
You say you can serve and not be in church.
I say you won't.
I say we need the daily weekly meetings, refreshment of purpose.
I say that if you actively avoid church because of sin, or failure, or because of the hypocrites then satan is winning.
I say that church should be a priority and not for what the church can do for you but what you can do for the church. The Body of believers that makes up the church. You might just make someone smile, and while you are at it you might even get a blessing.
But if you are not in church you will do nothing.
You will be nothing of note in the Christian life.
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